We’ve talked at length about how Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) is the definition of a “super-utilityman,” having played every position on the field at least once while also switch hitting. However, in spring training, he also worked on honing his off-the-field skills.
Carrigg has always been an aggressive player, as evidenced by his stealing home in Saturday’s Isotopes game:
Last August, he notoriously stole second, third and home in the same inning.
“I’ve had a tendency to play, not necessarily over the
top, but I just play 100% all the time,” he said during spring training. “That’s what I’ve been taught growing up by my dad and my brother. The only way I know how to play the game is a fully-competitive, 100% nature.”
However, that comes with some drawbacks.
In 2025, Carrigg posted a 33% chase rate – one of the highest in the minor leagues. That was the biggest on-field skill he worked to develop during spring training: trying to harness his “competitive nature” and learn a more patient approach.
“I’m just trying to do a lot a lot of the time, and sometimes that can get in the way,” he said. “But for me, it’s just knowing what I’m looking for and knowing what I can handle the best, and not trying to do too much at times.
“I’ve definitely taken some strides in that area,” he continued. “(I didn’t have) a lot of walks this spring, but I feel like I put myself into good counts. But putting the ball in play and playing hard is never a problem.”
That said, with the Rockies focus on versatility at all positions, why isn’t a guy like Carrigg being looked at more closely? It might be more related to off-the-field things.
“Probably handling failure like a professional,” Carrigg said of his next step, “getting rid of that immaturity and just letting them know that. If I do come up to the big leagues, I’m sure it’s not always going to be great – hopefully it’s awesome and I do well, but there’s going to be tough times. And being able to handle that like a pro and not bring the club down in any sense, and having any bad attitude or whatever and just being a good locker room guy… I felt like I did a really good job this spring. Granted, it went well so it’s a lot easier to be happy when things are going well. But just handling more of that type of thing like a professional.”
In addition to an extended look at big league spring training, Carrigg also got the opportunity to represent Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
“Getting a little week break to go play with the WBC was super cool,” he said. “I played short there and got to represent Israel, and I had four really good games out there. We went 2-2 – it wasn’t the result that we wanted, but it was still really fun to win a couple games, get them their berth for the next WBC. And then getting back into camp and hitting the ground running, and just playing some good ball and enjoying it while I could. I had a real blast.”
And the adjustments made things interesting down the stretch.
“It was a pretty unique experience going from camp to the WBC,” Carrigg said. “There’s a few big leaguers on our team – actually, quite a few, to be honest – so it kind of felt almost similar to spring training. We got to play against the Marlins at their spring training and we played against the Mets at their spring training, so for the most part, it kind of felt just like big league camp. But it was pretty cool – we stayed in a super awesome hotel with great food. It was pretty top notch. And then coming back, obviously, everything we have here is top notch, as well. And I got to see all the fellas again, so it was really good.”
Carrigg was not optioned to minor league camp until March 19 – the same day as Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP). Last year, he was reassigned on March 5. That goes to show how much closer Carrigg could be to the big leagues.
“I guess I did what I needed to do to stay longer,” he said. “Last year was a little shorter stint and I didn’t really play all that great. I guess you could say I forced the hand a little bit more this year, and I guess I just showed what I could bring to the table and bring to the team, and hopefully that’s some winning baseball.”
In his first week in Triple-A, Carrigg has gone 8-for-33 (.242) with one double, one triple, two RBI and two walks. He also has six strikeouts, but has stolen six bases in seven attempts.
Carrigg might be a player that fits the new Rockies archetype, so hopefully he can gain a little more control in order to put himself in a place to be called up to the bigs.
Weekly Pebble Report: March 30th-April 5th
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-6)
The Isotopes welcomed the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) for their first homestand of the season. Albuquerque managed to snag two wins in the series, thanks largely in part to their pitching staff, with the starters in particular compiling a 1.99 ERA in 22 1/3 innings with six walks and 25 strikeouts. Pitchers as a unit have allowed three or fewer runs in four of the first nine games in the 2026 season.
Unfortunately, the offense has struggled quite a bit to put runs on the board. The Isotopes tied a team record by going six consecutive home games without a home run, dating back to last year’s season finale, before new minor league free agent addition, Andrew Knizner, connected for a home run on Sunday. During this series, the Isotopes posted a .209/.308/.280 slashline with just 10 extra-base hits (eight doubles, one triple, one homer).
It’s also worth noting that it was shared on Sunday that Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) has been absent for the last few days after having a cyst removed, but it’s expected he’ll be able to get back to action in a few days.
⬆️ Stock Up: Top Marks for the Professor
Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP) came up big on the mound in both of his appearances during the series. In total, Hughes worked 10 1/3 innings with five hits and three earned runs allowed. During his start in the Home Opener last Tuesday, Hughes allowed just two runs on three hits while striking out eight batters against just two walks. During Sunday’s finale, Hughes entered the game after Parker Mushinski served as the “opener” and proceeded to allow one run on two hits with six strikeouts and just one walk. In that outing, he threw 56 of his 77 pitches for strikes.
Hughes fits the mold of a pitcher that the new front office is emphasizing. He offers a varied arsenal and has the mental aptitude to experiment and handle the mental approach to pitching at a higher elevation. He is, of course, a person who reads philosophy books for fun in his spare time. Hopes are high that Hughes will be able to make his big league debut at some point this season, and his showing an ability to handle the extreme conditions of the Pacific Coast League draws that day ever closer.
⬇️ Stock Down: Veen Struggling in the Duke City Scene
Officially activated from the injured list and optioned to Triple-A, Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) has struggled since joining the Isotopes on March 31. He is just 2-for-18 to begin the season with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks. He went 1-for-3 with an infield single and a walk in the series finale, marking the first time he reached safely multiple times in a game this season. He deserves some grace as he missed the last few weeks of spring training, but Veen has a lot to prove and will need to find his footing to put pressure on those above him on the depth chart.
Upcoming
The Isotopes kick off their next six-game series Tuesday by heading south to face off against the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres).
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (2-1)
The Hartford Yard Goats started their tenth anniversary season as the Yard Goats with a 2-1 series win over the Chesapeake BaySox (Baltimore Orioles) at their home stadium of Dunkin’ Park. Although their season opener was marked by high strikeouts (14) and not taking advantage of scoring chances (2-for-12 with runners in scoring position), the Yard Goats rattled off back-to-back victories to take the series. In Game 2, the offense roared to life, beating down the BaySox 10-2 after plating five runs in the sixth inning.
⬆️ Stock Up: Shining, Wimmering, Splendid.
Anyone not named Braylen Wimmer might have been surprised to see the 25-year-old super utilityman on the field this spring. After suffering a seizure during the Arizona Fall League in November, Wimmer underwent a surgical procedure called an awake craniotomy to remove as much as possible of a large, cancerous brain tumor called an astrocytoma. No one would have blamed him for sitting even part of this season out.
Yet Wimmer suited up as the Opening Day center fielder for the Hartford Yard Goats and played in two of their first three games. Not only did he play, he excelled. Wimmer went 4-for-7 at the plate, drove in four runs, scored three times himself, went a perfect 2-for-2 stealing bases, and walked twice.
⬆️ Stock Up: Brooks Gets It Done
When the Rockies parted ways with Bradley Blalock this off-season, they obtained 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Jake Brooks from the Miami Marlins in the process. Brooks—a former 11th round pick from the 2023 draft—ended his last season in the Miami organization with Double-A Pensacola. This season he is starting the year in Double-A and had a strong debut with the Rockies organization. Brooks worked five scoreless frames against the BaySox while allowing just two hits and setting down nine batters via the punchout.
Upcoming
The Yard Goats are off to Reading for a six-game set against the Fightin’ Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) for their first road trip of the season.
High-A: Spokane Indians (2-1)
The Indians took two of three in their opening series against the Everett AquaSox (Seattle Mariners). On Friday, they won convincingly 4-1; on Saturday, they lost a close 3-2 game; and on Sunday, they outslugged the AquaSox 10-9.
Jackson Cox (No. 16 PuRP) was the only starter to pitch more than three innings, and he only allowed one run — a solo homer — on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in his start on Saturday. The Indians used three pitchers in that game, while they used four on Friday and six on Sunday. While the pitching staff has punched out a lot of batters (30), they’ve also walked quite a few. They’ve given up at least five walks in each of their games, including 10 on Sunday.
⬆️ Stock Up: Fight On! ✌🏻
Third baseman and 2025 draft pick Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP) had a spectacular weekend at the plate. The Rockies’ third-round pick from USC went 6-for-11 (.545) with a double, two homers (both on Sunday), four RBI, one walk and three strikeouts.
Hedges was immediately sent to Spokane after he was drafted, and he hit just .195/.303/.234 in 20 games.
⬇️ Stock Down: Zero degrees Kelvin
Shortstop Kelvin Hidalgo struggled this week, going hitless (0-for-13) in three games with four strikeouts. He only reached (and scored) because he was hit by a pitch on Sunday. Of the prospects who have yet to record a hit, Hidalgo is the only one who started all three games.
Upcoming
The Indians head out for their first road trip, heading down to Hillsboro, OR to take on the Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks) for six games.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (2-1)
The Low-A Fresno Grizzlies kicked off their 2026 season on the road against the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks) looking to build on their strong 2025 campaign in which they reached the post-season only to be stymied by the eventual California League champion San Jose Giants.
The Grizzlies lost their season opener thanks to six earned runs given up by starter Marcos Herrera and a failure to capitalize on scoring chances by going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The offense also struck out 15 times. However, they quickly found their footing to win the next two games and their first series of the year. Across those two games the Grizzlies scored a combined 12 runs and strong pitching performances from 2025 draft picks Austin Newton and JB Middleton kept the Rawhide bats at bay.
⬆️ Stock Up: Born to Be Wilder
19-year-old third baseman Wilder Dalis (no. 24 PuRP) picked up where he left off after a standout campaign in 2025 across the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno. Dalis went 4-for-10 at the plate to kick off the Low-A season with a double and his first home run of the year. He also drew three walks to just two strikeouts and had two RBIs.
⬇️ Stock Down: Bat Still on Holliday
Top Rockies prospect and 2025 first round pick Ethan Holliday was assigned back to Low-A Fresno to start the season and reportedly is bigger than stronger than ever. Unfortunately, that didn’t necessarily translate to results at the plate. The 19-year-old recorded just one hit in the Grizzlies’ three-game series against Visalia. While he drew two walks, he struck out a whopping seven times in 12 at-bats, including a rough four strikeout game on Saturday.
Upcoming
The Grizzlies head home to beautiful Chukchansi Park for their home opener and a six-game set against the Stockton Ports (Sacramento Athletics)
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